‖ varec
Also varech.
[F. varech, varec (OF. warec, werek, verec, vrec, etc.), ad. old Scand. *wrek: see wreck n.]
1. Sea-weed.
| 1676 Phil. Trans. II. 594 The Sea-Fox, in whose stomach they found a branch of the Sea-herb Varec. 1783 Justamond tr. Raynal's Hist. Indies VI. 294 The most ordinary of these manures is the Varec, a sea-weed which is periodically throw'n upon the coast by the sea-tide. 1836 Sir G. Head Home Tour 289, I observed large quantities of varech or sea-weed on the beach [at Robin Hood's Bay]. 1889 Guernsey News 1 Feb., The gathering of varech in Herm commences to-morrow. |
| attrib. 1873 Browning Red Cotton Night-Cap Country 36 Then, dry and moist, the varech limit-line. |
2. An impure carbonate of soda obtained from sea-weed.
| 1844 Fownes Chem. 234 Carbonate of Soda... The barilla..is thus produced in several places on the coast of Spain... That made in Brittany is called varec. 1860 Ure's Dict. Arts (ed. 5) III. 940 Varec, the name of kelp made on the coast of Normandy. |